Device for remote operation of aerosol



p 20, 1960 E. L. PALKOWSKI 2,953,283

DEVICE FOR REMOTE OPERATION OF AEROSOL Filed April 15, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. EMIL L. PALKOWSKI BY M ATTORNEYS P 1960 E. L. PALKOWSKI 2,953,283

DEVICE FOR REMOTE OPERATION OF AEROSOL Filed April 15, 1957 :s Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.

INVENTOR. EMIL L. PALKOWSKI ATTO R N EYS Sept. 20, 1960 E. L. PALKowskl 2,953,283

DEVICE FOR REMOTE OPERATION OF AEROSOL Filed April 15, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG/6 INVENTOR.

EMIL L. PALKOWSKI l 66 BY ATTORNEYS "-ferable from an exhausted container to a new one.

United States Patent 2,953,283 DEVICE FOR REMOTE OPERATION OF AEROSOL Emil L. Palkowski, RED. 2, Spring Lake Township,

Ottawa County, Mich.

Filed Apr. 1'5, 1957, Ser. No. 652,865

8 Claims. (Cl. 222394) This invention relates to means to be attached to a standard portable aerosol dispenser by which the valve of the spray nozzle can be actuated from a point re mote from the can.

In the use of aerosol dispensers of the type normally sold for household use it is frequently desirable to operate them at a point which is difficult to reach such as ,under the eaves of a building or adjacent a ceiling. vHeretofore this has necessitated the operators standing on a stool or ladder to bring the container close enough-t0. the target to be effective. This is particularly true where the object is to spray a film of insecticide on a surface such as. under the eaves of a building. While it is possible to elevate the container to a suitable point adjacent the target, this does not solve the problem. The operator then has no way ofactuating-the valve of the container. Thisinvention eliminates this difficulty by providing not only a means for supporting the container at a distance. remote from the operator but also by providing means permitting the operator to actuate the spray nozzle at a substantial distance. from the container. .Since the average aerosol dispenser for household use is small and its capacity is quite limited, it isdesirable that the equipment used both for supporting the container and for actuating the valve be so designed that it is readily trans- It is also desirable that this mechanism be removable from the container, since if attached while the container is in shipment, it would require special packaging to prevent accidental actuation while in transit. I Another problem adding to the difficulty of developing a suitabledevice of this type is the wide variety of valve types utilized on the more commonly available aerosol dispensers. Various means of attachment to and association with the valve tripping mechanism of the dispenser must be utilized. This invention also solves this problem.

These and other objectives of this invention will be readily understood by those acquainted with the design and use of aerosol dispensers upon reading the following specification and the accompanying drawings.

I In the drawings:

' Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation view of a typical w ice Fig. 8 is a plan view of the actuating mechanism illustrated in Fig. 6 showing the mechanism after it is clamped dispenser mounted on a supporting rod and having a valve actuating lever mounted thereon.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the container illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an oblique view of the actuating lever for the valve illustrated in Fig. 1. e

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the lower anchor for the dispenser. V

Fig. in an enlarged fragmentaryv oblique view of the top anchor for the container. r 5 Fig.v 6 is a fragmentary side elevation view of a modi tied form of this invention. 7 i f 1' Fig.7 is a plan view of the actuating'mechanism illusplaced on the discharge member.

in operating position.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of further modified form of this invention.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary sectional elevation view taken along the plane XX of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a plan view of a. still further modified form of this invention.

Fig. 12 is a side elevation view of the form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a side elevation view of an actuating lever designed to wrap about the discharge member of the container.

Fig. 14 is an oblique view of the lever illustrated in Fig. 13.

Fig. 15 is a plan view of a container mounting the lever illustrated in Figs. 13 and 14.

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary side elevation view of a container having a further modified form of this invention mounted thereon.

Fig. 17 is a plan view of the container and lever mechanism illustrated in Fig. 16.

.Fig. 18 is a sectional view taken along the plane XVIII-XVIII of Fig. 17.

Figures 1 through 5 Referring specifically to the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates an aerosol container or dispenser. There are many varieties of the container 1 but basically all are fabricated of metal and are designed to withstand a substantial internal pressure. These containers are charged with liquid plus a low boiling propellant such as Freon. The useful charge within the container may be an insecticide, a paint, an enamel, a stain or any other of numerous sprayable materials.

The conventional aerosol container has an upper rim 11 and a lower rim 12. These join the top and bottom of the can with its sides. To support the container for manipulation at a point remote from the operator, a rod 13 is provided. This rod may be simply a wooden dowel or it may be of metal, tubular construction. It may consist of one or more sections. As illustrated, it consists of an upper portion 14 and a lower portion joined by a slip collar 15. This arrangement provides a relatively long rod separable into shorterlengths to facilitate storage and shipment.

The upper portion of the rod 13 has an L-shaped catch 16 (Figs. 1 and 4) designed to seat under and around the containers lower rim 12, firmly securing it. It will be recognized that a rivet or screw having a head may be substituted for the L-shaped catch. The upper end of the rod has a disk 17 equipped with a downwardly extending finger designed to seat over and clamp the upper rim 11 (Figs. 1 and 5). The disk 17 may be secured to the rod 13 in any suitable manner such as by the screw 19. It is essential that the means used for securing it to the rod will permit the disk to be separated from the rod sufficiently to disengage the conatiner 1. This permits replacement of the containers.

It will be recognized that various types of clamping devices such as spring clips for securing a container to a rod may be used, provided they are light, simple and per-. mit the containers to be readily changed.

At the top of the container is a discharge member 20. These discharge members are of various constructions. Each, however, contains a valve mechanism which, by manipulation of the discharge member or of some portion of it, may be opened to release the contents of the I container in the form of a spray. The particular" discharge member 20 is surrounded by a cap 21, the lowerend of;

which is spaced away from the top of the container permitting it to be rocked. Rocking of the disk 21 opens the valve in the discharge member 20. To effect remote operation of this discharge member 20, an L-shaped hook 22 (Figs. 1 and 2) is secured to disk 21 opposite from the discharge nozzle 23. The hook 22 is designed to detachably anchor one end of the lever 24. The lever 24 has a downwardly flanged end 25 pro vided with a slot 26 for receiving the end of the hook 22. The other end of the lever 24 projects beyond the sides of the container 1 and is equipped with a small hole 27.

The hole 27 permits attachment of suitable means for manipulating the lever 24. This means may be a flexible element such as a chain or cord. It extends approximately to the bottom of the rod 13. The operator, while supporting the container at the end of the rod 13, can actuate the valve of the discharge member 20 by pulling on the cord 28. This pivots the lever 24 downwardly, rocking the disk 21.

Figures 6, 7 and 8 These figures illustrate the valve actuating mechanism designed for an aerosol dispenser in which the discharge member is rigid and the valve is actuated by an element projecting from the top of the discharge member. The container 1a is, for all practical purposes, the same as container 1 except for the design of the discharge member 30. The discharge member 30 is of circular shape except for the outwardly and upwardly inclined nozzle 31. The nozzle 31 has a discharge port 32.

To mount the invention on this structure, a ring-like anchor member 33 is provided. It is open on one side, the opening being wide enough that the anchor member may be seated about the discharge nozzle 34 with the nozzle passing through the opening. The anchor member is then rotated about the discharge member 30 until a portion of the anchor member is firmly seated beneath the nozzle. Preferably, the end of the anchor member having the upturned arm 34 is located adjacent the nozzle 31. The lever 35 is pivotally secured to the arm 34. In any case, the anchor 33 is so turned that the lever 35 extends generally away from the nozzle 31.

v The lever is rigidly secured to the arm 34 by means of the rivet 36. The other end of the lever 35 projects beyond the sides of the container and has a suitable hook 3'7 for securing the end of a chain or cord 28. Intermediate its ends, and preferably closely adjacent the arm 34, to obtain mechanical advantage, the lever 35 seats on the upwardly projecting valve actuator 38. The lever 35 is supported by the upward bias of the valve actuator 38. This upward bias is provided in this type of valve by any suitable means such as rubber or a spring incorporated in the valve. This mechanism is not illustrated as it is conventional and is no part of this invention. It will be seen that by pivoting the lever 35 downwardly, the valve will be opened.

Figures 9 and These figures illustrate a modified form of the mechanism illustrated in Figs. 6 through 8. In this case, the container 1b replaces the raised top with a concave top 40 (Fig. 10). This lowers the discharge member into the silhouette of the container. The discharge member 30 is identical to that shown in Fig. 6 but being lowered into the silhouette of the container it is possible to secure the lever by an anchor member 41 extending across the top of the container and having terminal ears for clamping it to the containers top rim 43. The anchor member 41 may be designed to slide into place from one side of the container or it may be somewhat resilient and snapped over the rim. In either case, its operation is the same.

The operation of the anchor member 41 overlying the discharge member 30 is cut away at 44. At one end of the cut away portion, a flange 45 is turned upwardlyon the anchor member. The flange 45 is adjacent to one side of the discharge member 30. Rigidly mounted to the flange 45 is a lever 46 having a downwardly depressed portion 47 overlying the discharge member 30.

The depressed portion provides a contact area adapted to rest directly on the valve actuator 38 so that downward movement of the lever 46 will depress the actuator 38 opening the valve within the discharge member 30. The end of the lever 46 projects beyond the sides of the container and has means such as the nob 48 to which a suitable core member such as a string 28 may be attached.

Figures 11 and 12 The container or dispenser 1c is equipped with a discharge member 50 incorporating a valve of a type which is open when the discharge member is rocked either forwardly or backwardly. The discharge member contains a resilient element normally holding it upright and closing the valve.

To actuate this type of valve, a lever 51 is provided. This lever is equipped with an aperture 52 (Fig. 11) of such diameter that the lever may be seated over the discharge member 51. Suflicient frictional engagement occurs between the discharge member 50 and the walls of the aperture 52 that the lever 51 is held firmly in position. However, the lever may be removed from the discharge member When desired. The lever projects beyond the sides of the container 10 and is equipped with a hole 53 for attachment of a suitable pull element such as a string 28.

Figures 13, 14, and 15 These figures illustrate a modified form of lever for actuating the same type of discharge member as that illustrated in Figs. 11 and 12. In this construction, the lever 55 instead of being flat is arranged vertically and at one end is wrapped around to form a hook 56 (Figs. 14 and 15). The radius of the hook 56 is such that the discharge member 50 can be pressed into it with the hook gripping the discharge member firmly. Most of the discharge members of this type have a body of plastic. This body is slightly compressible and the lever 55 is particularly designed to utilize this characteristic because it compresses slightly the discharge member,

attaining a firm tight grip upon it. Where the discharge member is of a non-resilient material, it would be better to use the lever 51 illustrated in Figs. 11 and 12 unless the hook 56 is made resilient.

Since it is desirable to have the lever extend oppositely from the spray pattern to avoid interference with the pattern, the hook 56 wraps over the spray port of the discharge member 50. Thus, it is provided with an aperture 57 aligned with the spray port. The other end of the lever 55 extends beyond the sides of the container and is provided with a hole 58 for attachment of a pull member such as the cord 28.

Figures 16, 17 and 18 Some of these dispensers are equipped with an upstanding discharge member 60 having a depressible valve actuating unit at their upper end. In addition, the dis charge member 60 is equipped by the original equipment manufacturer with a short lever 61 pivotally secured by the hings structure 62 to a plate 63. The plate 63 is an integral part of the discharge member 60. While these levers may be of various constructions, some of them are equipped with a small valve opening dome 64 on their lower surface. These levers are short and hardly extend beyond the central portion of the container.

To apply this invention to this type of valve structure, a lever handle 65 is provided. The sides 66 of the cient length that it projects substantially beyond the sides of the container 1d. This outer end has a'hole 67 for attachment of any suitable type of pull member such as the cord 28.

While the various levers illustrated herein may be made of any suitable material such as steel, aluminum or molded plastic, if a metal, it will be seen that they are particularly adapted to forming by blanking, punching or other conventional sheet metal working tools.

All forms of theinvention operate essentially alike. In all cases the lever provided by this invention is adapted to be detachably connected to the discharge member of the container. Thus, the-user need have only one lever of the type adapted for the particular make of container he is utilizing. When one container becomes exhausted and is replaced, the lever is simply transferred from the exhausted container to the new one. The same is true of the rod 13 since it is quickly movable from one container to another.

The operator is aided by this invention in obtaining access to remote locations whether he is spraying an insecticide, paint or any other material. The operator simply attaches the container firmly to the end of the rod and places the lever on the discharge member of the container. He then elevates the container to the proper position for spraying and by pulling the cord 28 causes the spray to be discharged in the desired area. The use of stools and-ladders is eliminated.

This invention has the further advantage of removing the spraying operation from the immediate vicinity of the operator. He is less likely to breathe the spray, which is often noxious. Thus, the health hazard involved in the use of this type of aerosol dispenser is materially reduced. This is particularly true where the spraying must be done in a semi-confined area.

It will be seen that this invention materially increases the usefulness of this type of dispenser as well as facilitating its actual operation. At the same time, the cost of the components necessary to adapt the container to remote operation is small and the use is so simple that only the most rudimentary of instructions are necessary to properly inform the operator.

While I have described several forms of my invention, it will be recognized that forms other than those described may be made which incorporate the principles of this invention. Such of these modifications as incorporate the principles of the invention are to be considered as included in the hereinafter appended claims unless these claims by their language expressly state otherwise.

I claim:

1. In combination with a portable container adapted to dispense -a liquid under pressure in aerosol form, said container having a discharge member incorporating a valve adapted to be opened upon rocking of said dis-, charge member; a lever; one end of said lever pressfitted about said discharge member and encircling said discharge member more than 180; said lever being pivotally movable in a vertical direction to rock said discharge member and open said valve; the other end of said lever extending beyond the sides of said container and means secured to said other end of said lever for operating said lever from a point remote from said container.

2. In combination with a portable container adapted to dispense a liquid under pressure in aerosol form, said container having a discharge member incorporating a valve adapted to be opened upon rocking manipulation of said discharge member; a lever; one end of said lever being apertured; said lever being formed to seat about said dis charge member with said discharge member received through said aperture; said lever having the other end thereof pivotally movable in a vertical direction to rock said discharge member and open said valve; means secured to said other end ofsaid lever for opcrating'said' lever from a point remote from said container. a 1

3. In combination with a portable container adapted to dispense a liquid under pressure in aerosol form, said container having a discharge member incorporating a valve adapted to be opened upon rocking manipulation of said discharge member; a lever; one end of said lever being wrapped about said discharge member; a port in said discharge member and an aperture in said one end of said lever aligned with said port; said lever the other end thereof pivotally movable in a vertical direction to rock said discharge member and open saidvalve; means secured to said other end of said lever for operating said lever from a point remote from said container.

4. In combination with a portable container adapted to dispense a liquid under pressure in aerosol form, said container having a discharge member incorporating a valve and depressible means on the top of said discharge member for opening said valve; a lever; an anchor member detachably secured to and stationary about said discharge member; one end of said lever pivotally secured to said anchor member adjacent said depressible means; said lever member intermediate its ends seated on and supported by said depressible means; the other end of said lever member projecting beyond the sides of said container; said lever being pivotally movable in a vertical direction to depress said discharge member and open said valve; means secured to the other end of said lever for operating said lever from a point remote from said container.

5. In combination with a portable container adapted to dispense a liquid under pressure in aerosol form, said container having a discharge member incorporating a valve and depressible means on the top of said discharge member for opening said valve; said discharge member having a nozzle projecting from one side thereof; a split anchor ring for seating about said discharge member between said container and said nozzle; one end of said anchor ring having an upwardly turned arm; a lever; one end of said lever pivotally mounted to said arm; said lever member intermediate its ends seated on said depressible means; the other end of said lever member projecting beyond the sides of said container; said lever being pivotally movable in a vertical direction to manipulate said discharge member and open said valve; means secured to the other end of said lever for operating said lever from a point remote from said container.

6. In combination with a portable container adapted to dispense a liquid under pressure in aerosol form, said container having a discharge member incorporating a valve and depressible means on the top of said discharge member for opening said valve; said discharge member having a nozzle projecting from one side thereof; a split anchor ring for seating about said discharge member between said container and said nozzle and with said nozzle received within the split part thereof; one end portion of said anchor ring being upwardly inclined and wedging under said nozzle; said one end of said anchor ring having an upwardly turned arm; a lever; one end of said lever pivotally mounted to said arm; said lever member intermediate its ends seated on said depressible means; the other end of said lever member projecting beyond the sides of said container; said lever being pivotally movable in a vertical direction to manipulate said discharge member and open said valve; means secured to the other end of said lever for operating said lever from a point remote from said container.

7. In combination with a portable container adapted to dispense a liquid under pressure in aerosol form, said container having a discharge member incorporating a valve and depressible means on the top of said discharge member for opening said valve; an anchor member seated and extending across on the top of said container; said anchor member having terminal portions for frictionally engaging the sides of said container; said anchor member having an upturned ear intermediate its end and adjacent said discharge member; a lever pivotally secured at one of its ends to said ear; said lever member intermediate its ends seated on said depres'sible means; the other end of said lever member projecting beyond the sides of said container; said lever being pivotally movable in a vertical direction to manipulate said discharge member and open said valve; means secured to the other end of said lever for operating said lever from a point remote from said 10 valve adapted to be opened when said discharge member 15 is rocked sideways; a cap seated over said discharge member and rockable therewith; a lever; a hook on said cap; a lever having one end detachably seated over said References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 546,467 Heinig Sept. 17, 1895 1,849,511 Thompson Mar. 15, 1932 2,558,272 Rubenstein et a1 June 26, 1951 2,720,422 Mercur Oct. 11, 1955 2,761,596 Ward Sept. 4, 1956 2,806,638 Tiherl Sept. 17, 1957 

